Media centre

Wednesday 16 Nov 2022

Grantham bridge is third most bashed in Britain

Region & Route:

Eastern

| Eastern: East Coast

• Harlaxton Road in Grantham is officially one of the worst bridges in the country for bridge strikes, having been struck 17 times in 2021/22. 
• Across Britain, more than 1,800 bridges were hit in 2021/22, costing Network Rail almost £12 million in delay and cancellation fees. 
• Network Rail has launched a new animation as part of its ‘Wise Up, Size Up’ campaign, urging lorry drivers to know the height of their vehicle, look out for road signs and slow down when approaching a bridge. 

The latest figures show that Harlaxton Road bridge on the A607 in Grantham is the third most-struck bridge in Britain. The Lincolnshire bridge was struck 17 times between April 2021 and March 2022, amounting to over 11 hours of delay for passengers which has cost the rail industry, and ultimately taxpayers, over £85,000.  

This is just one out of 1,833 bridges hit in the last financial year across the railway network, costing nearly £12 million in delay and cancellation costs.  

The latest figures come as Network Rail releases a new animation as part of its ongoing ‘Wise Up, Size Up’ campaign, reminding lorry drivers and haulage operators to take better care by knowing the height of their vehicles and choosing suitable routes before they head out on journeys.  

The cartoon centres on three high-sided vehicles navigating a low bridge in increasingly wacky ways, from pole-vaulting over it, to tunnelling underneath it. The animation is designed to warn HGV drivers that life is not like the cartoons and to take a moment to think before taking a risk when approaching low bridges. 

Paul Rutter, East Coast Route Director for Network Rail, said: “Bridge strikes are a serious cause for concern. Not only do they result in unnecessary delays, cancellations and high costs – they also pose serious safety issues for both road and rail users.  

“With Black Friday and the Christmas delivery rush just around the corner, it is so important that both haulage operators and drivers plan ahead and take extra care. Lorry drivers should ensure that they have the height of their vehicle written down in clear view, look out for road signs and slow down when approaching a bridge.” 

As well as the ‘Wise Up, Size Up’ campaign, Network Rail are working to ensure that haulage companies and their drivers are provided with all the tools and knowledge they need to avoid becoming bridge bashers. There are a team of bridge strike ‘champions’ located across the country, who raise awareness of the issue by visiting haulage companies and leading in the management of bridge strike risk in their local area.  

ENDS